SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mayor Meg Kelly on Tuesday night appointed a new charter review commission with three commissioners who have vehemently opposed any charter change: Commissioners John Franck, Michele Madigan and Skip Scirocco.

The 10-member group will be tasked with tweaking the current charter and put it up for a vote in November. The move ends efforts by advocates to force another charter-change vote.

"The goal of this revision will be to find efficiencies and organizational improvements within the current government to better serve the people of Saratoga Springs," the mayor said.

Kelly's action was lauded by those who want to preserve the commission form of government and a ploy to protect political power by those who want to see another government structure for the city.

Franck said the charter-change advocates lost, and they need to accept that fact and move on.

"The majority rules," Franck said. "Mayor Kelly is listening to the majority of voters."

Kelly ran for election in November on a platform for charter change, so many change advocates felt betrayed. A petition drive was planned to gather 1,500 signatures to force a vote this November.

"What this does is block us," said Bob Turner, the former chair of the now disbanded Charter Review Commission that rewrote the charter for the 2017 vote. "The mayor's creation of a new charter review commissions means there is no potential for a citizen's initiative for a new charter."

Patty Morrison, a member of It's Time Saratoga, said: "With this action, we will only be presented with one option and this is to continue with the commission form of government (which) did not get a clear majority of the vote in our late election."

Last November, charter change advocates sought a recount after their side was defeated by 10 votes, but the Saratoga County Board of Elections said no. A state Supreme Court judge also struck down a request.

While many spoke against the measures, others at the meeting were in favor. Bonnie Sellers, a member of SUCCESS, the group that opposed charter change, said that the people need to embrace the 100-year-old city form of government.

"You don't criticize the constitution. You don't criticize the state constitution," Sellers said. "Why is it so difficult to respect what we have. Leave the government alone."

The commission will be chaired by City Attorney Vince DeLeonardis with Madigan's Deputy Commissioner of Finance Michael Sharp the vice chair. Also to be seated on the commission will be Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety John Daley, Commissioner of Public Safety Peter Martin, Deputy Mayor Lisa Shields, Deputy Commissioner of Public Works Joe O'Neill and Deputy Commissioner of Accounts Maire Masterson.